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Working from home can sometimes be draining. The lack of fresh air & sunshine can weigh on me. & no- the back yard doesn’t count. Neither does getting the mail. When I am cooped up inside the house when the outdoors are sparkling I like to remind myself of the long (too long) winter & that sunshine is a gift. Then 2-3 days a week are the golden days- the me time. The time where I bust out of the house to do fun things mixed with chores. Glory. Today I wanted to talk a bit about my routine outside of the home & the items I grab for first when I get to head out the door- from chewing gum to perfume to my preference for hoop earrings.

Usually when I’m out I am accompanied by my husband. We tend to do a lot of the house stuff together like groceries then grab lunch or have a dinner date. It has always been like this because I usually use my alone time to get things done for work inside. Often I’ll wake up Saturday stir-crazy & SO ready to be NOT inside that I don’t even bother to throw on makeup.

If you follow my beauty blog (filled with everything from basics to the very elaborate cosmetic adventures) then you might be giving me a little gasp right now. True story. I know. My own mother does when she hears I go out in public without a stitch of face makeup on. But I do have some essentials that I work in!

One of my favorite kinds of places to go to get out of my dulldrums is a museum. Probably half of you aren’t remotely interested but the act of walking around & viewing random bits & bobs is fun for me. My husband…not so much so this tends to be more of a mom & me trip. This is the Getty Villa in California & this is a shot of the garden from above. Isn’t it lovely? The perfect place to stroll.

No matter where I go I always bring SPF, sanitizer, & something to apply to my lips. Right now I’m loving Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery for the SPF of 50 & how healthy it makes my skin look. I go crazy without something on my lips so when I want something colorless that feels & looks nice I grab the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lip Silk since it seems to fill in all my lines. I’m a constant hand sanitizer person & this one from bath & Body Works in Market Peach is one I stock up on yearly. The scent is so fresh!

Another spot to hit when the weather is hot is our local zoo. The zoo here in Omaha is absolutely fantastic- this photo is over by the butterfly exhibit where you actually walk through & they land on you! My parents came our for a visit last summer & the 4 of us went nearly every day. It can get really hot but you’re always around the corner from something with air-conditioning so it is definitely not bad. I throw on big shades, comfy shoes, & usually a huge hat which my mom ended up using for the day.

I usually keep a pair of hoops in the car in case I forget to put on earring in either silver or gold. I also make time for a dab of perfume, this one is L’Occitane Roses et Reines which smells terribly romantic. I absolutely love it alone & layered with other scents. Earrings & a quick spritz instantly make me feel more put together without having to glance in a mirror or even stop walking.

I do a lot of shopping this time of year as well…okay I shop a lot in general. But really- even more so in the summer because it is so nice to be outside without being miserably cold. I’m always hunting down some new makeup collection- remember this Oz the Great & Powerful one from Urban Decay awhile back? I loved this one so much that I snapped a picture & I’ve kept it all this time. I still love those palettes which I reviewed here & here! We hit store after store just to burn some energy, grab some frozen treats, & chatter.

Because someone (my husband usually) always tempts me with lots of treats all summer or I’m trying to burn off some energy I tend to be chewing gum. I picked up one Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum pack for my purse & the Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews for my car from Walmart. Did you know Walmart is having fun Juicy Fruit demos across the country? You can check out these demos July 25th-27th from 11am-4pm & August 1st-3rd 11am-4pm & 1pm-6pm on Sunday. Besides the original flavor seen here Juicy Fruit also has a Juicy Fruit Strawberry flavor that I’d love to get my hands on! One of these cool flip top bottles called Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews are available nationwide & cost only $3.49. The bottle contains Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews sugarfree gum which is what I reach for most but the Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum is great when I want to blow some bubbles for only $0.79 a pack.

So what are you doing to get things done this summer while still trying to work in the fun? What are your must-haves? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Thanks to U by Kotex® Pads for sponsoring today’s discussion! All opinions are my own!

Can you believe it is already almost Summer? It will officially start at the end of June- but I’m prepared! I have some of my very favorite products here to share- from home to health to style! Everything you need to prep for summer! Keep reading to see what makes them all absolute favorites & to find out more about the U by Kotex Save the Undies Campaign!

When I think of summer I automatically think of SPF! I used to be a tan, California goddess- then things got real. I am now an avid SPF user year-round but naturally in the summer I’m showing more skin than normal. I’ve been loving the spray-on options & this Coppertone Continuous Spray Sunscreen is an obsession! This is a small bottle which is perfect to toss in my purse plus it is water resistant. With SPF 50 & a super easy to spray nozzle this is a must have!

Next up is a drink I picked up on a total whim & now can’t get enough of! While browsing I picked up the Trader Joe’s brand Matcha Green Tea Latte Mix & now it is my favorite treat drink! If you’ve ever had green tea mochi at an Asian restaurant than you likely have tried the green tea variety. Now imagine it- in liquid form. I don’t really go out to buy my drinks like a lot of people so this is the perfect at-home treat. I really like the flavor with almond milk for a creamier finish & especially iced to beat the heat.

Getting ready for summer has a lot to do with my house since I work from home- candles & wax melts are the perfect way to get it moving! I have some beach scents but my favorite tend to be more fruit based- like the strawberry & pink dragon fruit scents above. I also pick up some that smell grassy, like fruity drinks, or coconut-esque as well. Anything that makes me think of sunshine or days by the pool!

I’ve been chewing a lot of gum lately- & isn’t this just the perfect summer flavor? I really like these Extra Dessert Delight flavors & I think I’d tried them all! Key Lime Pie is more tangy than sweet & has that nice brightness to it. Like summertime! Gum has been helping me control cravings but these taste so good that I forget they aren’t a treat!

During summer you won’t catch me without a waterproof mascara- & the It Cosmetics Waterproof Full Lash Tightline Primer & Mascara is my top pick this year. the brush is itty bitty & meant to full in between the lashes but it is also a great primer under other mascaras. When I want a more natural look I’ll wear this by itself & it coats every last root to tip. I’ve found using it as a primer is great too & helps adhere my mascara better to help prevent flaking. The hot, humid summer easily bumped up this mascara to holy grail status.

Last up is a product absolutely necessary for switch over to non-black pants: U by Kotex® offers a full line of feminine care products for periods including pads, liners and tampons. Outstanding protection that keeps you one step ahead. These are specifically the U by Kotex® Clean Wear Ultra Thin Regular pads which come with super cute packaging. Seriously though- they didn’t make them this cool when I was a kid! Introducing new U by Kotex® Ultra Thin Pads with 3D Capture Core*, a one-of-a-kind center that locks away wetness to help stop leaks. Kotex is SO confident you’ll love them that they’re giving away free sample too! Visit the U by Kotex Landing page and find the samples that best fit your mission to save the undies. Click on the “Get Sample” button and enter your mailing information. Then, sit back and wait, your samples will be on their way!

What are your summer must-haves? Do they change a lot year to year or do you have favorites that repeat over & over? I’d love to hear about them! Don’t forget to pick up your samples above as well!

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Please remember that all photos, projects, opinions, & recipes (unless otherwise noted) are mine & mine alone.If you would like to use a recipe or photo, please shoot me an e-mail here: Stephanie-louise@live.com Thanks!